Biography: For over four decades, Valentino Garavani, known professionally as Valentino, cultivated a brand of glamour devoted to opulence and femininity. A true artist of luxury, he is one of the few Italian designers to successfully imbue the Italian alta moda with the prestige of the haute couture - producing garments of seemingly effortless luxury and timeless beauty. Throughout his career, Valentino remained consistently loyal to high standards of excellence, both technically and aesthetically. As fashion writer Janet Samet expressed, “Valentino has managed to turn every fashion model into a lady and every lady into a fashion model.” His opulent designs have appealed to many notable women, from Sophia Loren to Daphne Guinness. Elizabeth Taylor wore a white dress to the première of Cleopatra in 1963, and Jacqueline Kennedy wore a lace-trimmed Valentino when she wed Aristotle Onassis in 1968.
Valentino studied at the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris before opening his own alta moda house in Rome in 1959. His atelier was based on the French model of haute couture, focusing on handmade garments with great emphasis on luxury materials and details, such as beading, embroidery, and pleating. Prior to opening his atelier, Valentino apprenticed with couturier Jean Dessès for five years and Guy Laroche for two. His first major fashion show, in 1962 at the Pitti Palace in Florence, gained him international recognition. It wasn’t long before he abandoned this venue in favor of showing his collections at his salon in Rome, where his presentations became glamorous social events. In 1975, Valentino was one of the first designers to introduce his ready-to-wear collections in Paris; in 1989, he showed his couture collections there for the first time. His second Paris couture collection, inspired by the Weiner Werkstäte, drew great acclaim, and he became the first Italian designer to successfully transition to Paris.
The hallmarks of Valentino’s designs are many. “Valentino Red,” his signature shade, became a staple of every collection. He is known for his use of black and white, often in extravagant patterns and textures. Lace, ruffles, polka dots, elaborate embroideries, new interpretations of animal prints, and scalloped hems and trims—all are recurring elements in Valentino’s work. Shortly after his 45th anniversary, Valentino announced his retirement from fashion. Today, his longtime accessories designers, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli, design for his house. They remain unwavering in their pursuit of Valentino’s vision.

Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
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